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Microplastics in Our Food: A Growing Concern
Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic that have made their way into the environment and, alarmingly, into our food. These particles can enter our bodies through various sources, particularly certain types of food. Below are five foods that are known to contain the highest amounts of microplastics. Understanding these sources can help raise awareness of how much plastic we may unknowingly consume daily.
Sugar and Salt: Common Kitchen Staples with Hidden Microplastics
Sugar and salt are two of the most used ingredients in any kitchen. Unfortunately, they also hide significant amounts of microplastics. Microplastics can find their way into these condiments due to packaging or storage in plastic containers. A study by the environmental research organisation Toxics Link revealed that ten types of salt—including table salt, rock salt, and sea salt—and five types of sugar, all purchased from online and local markets, contained microplastics. The particles varied in form, including fibres, pellets, films, and fragments, and ranged in size from 0.1 mm to 5 mm. Notably, a 2023 study discovered that Himalayan pink salt, mined from the ground, contained the most microplastics, followed closely by black salt and marine salt. This is a concerning find, as these everyday ingredients are consumed regularly.